The Golden Arms, Ghana’s national armwrestling team, is intensifying its preparations for the upcoming 12th African Armwrestling Championship, set to take place from June 21 to June 25 at the GNAT Hall in Accra.
Under the guidance of Technical Director Hussein Akwetey Addy, the team handlers are expected to assemble a contingent of approximately 80 pullers (as armwrestlers are known) across various categories including male, female, junior, and senior for the Championship.
During a media workout held in Accra last Saturday, Mr. Addy spoke to the Daily Graphic and revealed that the national squad would be announced next week, just ahead of the start of the Championship.
He further explained that residential camping was already underway to ensure the athletes are well-prepared to secure the top position on the medal table.
“Given that our athletes are spread across the country, we have deployed some of our experienced coaches and pullers to oversee training in the different regions and prepare the team members,” Mr. Addy stated.
“We anticipate that 10 days prior to the commencement of the competition, they will be in Accra, where the national coaches will take charge of their training. Our vision is to host and win, and we also aim to qualify at least five athletes for the World Combat Games.”
It should be noted that Ghana achieved an impressive third-place finish in the previous Championship held in Nigeria, securing a total of 45 medals, including 18 gold, 22 silver, and five bronze medals.
Mr Charles Osei-Asibey, the President of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation, shared a similarly optimistic outlook on Ghana’s prospects and encouraged team members to be motivated by the desire to bring home medals for their nation.
“Your motivation should not solely be financial rewards; instead, focus on winning medals for Ghana because by doing so, you will gain recognition. This is our opportunity to host and win, and we must deliver on this promise to the people of Ghana,” Osei-Asibey emphasized.
As the African Armwrestling Championship draws near, all eyes will be on the Golden Arms as they strive to showcase their strength and skill on their home turf, aiming for both a successful hosting experience and triumphant performances in the competition.
Source: Graphiconline
